Twelve-match ban for Barton

QPR midfielder Joey Barton has been banned for 12 matches after his behaviour against Manchester City on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season "tarnished the image of football".

PUBLISHED: 19:02, Wed, May 23, 2012

Joey Barton (right) [PA]

The Football Association confirmed an independent regulatory commission found Barton guilty of two counts of violent conduct. The FA announced Barton received an automatic four-game suspension, with the additional eight matches a consequence of the manner of his dismissal. He was also fined £75,000.

Barton was shown a red card at the Etihad Stadium for elbowing Carlos Tevez, and he then kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.

The acts were condemned by the chairman of the regulatory commission, who stated: "There are rules of conduct that should be adhered to, and such behaviour tarnishes the image of football in this country, particularly as this match was the pinnacle of the domestic season and watched by millions around the globe."

QPR said they will now begin their own internal investigation.

Club spokesman Ian Taylor said on Twitter: "QPR will be making no comment in regard to the Joey Barton case. Internal investigation will begin in due course."

Barton denied the charge of violent conduct against Kompany but the FA said the case against Barton was found to be proved.

An FA statement said: "An independent regulatory commission has today dealt with two charges of violent conduct against Joey Barton, arising from the game against Manchester City, resulting in an eight-match suspension and £75,000 fine for the Queens Park Rangers midfielder.

"This eight-match suspension is to run consecutively to the four-game suspension Barton was already given for his dismissal in the fixture, making a total of 12 matches."

Barton insisted via Twitter on the day of his sending-off that he had not lost his head, but that a team-mate "suggested I should try to take 1 of theirs with me".